Snakes On A Plane director mourned

He said Ellis' body was found in a hotel room in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was working on Kite, a remake of the 1998 Japanese anime film that was to have starred Snakes On A Plane actor Samuel L Jackson.

Mr Gardner declined to provide additional details, and no cause of death has been released.

Jackson tweeted that Ellis was "so talented, so kind, such a good friend", and that he was "gone too soon".

Ellis' directing credits included Shark Night 3D, The Final Destination, Cellular and Final Destination 2.